Chapter 210 Female Simp in Farming Variety Show (18)

Chapter 210 The Female Simp in Farming Variety Show (18)

"You okay?"

Hearing it again, Nan Gongjing finally recognized the person in front of him...

It was actually her.

"How are you? I brought some water for you." Through the haze, Nan Gongjing could vaguely make out the outline of Tang Qing's figure.

His ragged breaths began to steady.

Twice now.

Last time, she’d saved him from steaming oil...

For some reason, her face sharpened in his mind.

In the dark, Nan Gongjing didn’t take the water bottle Tang Qing offered.

"What’s wrong?"

"Not thirsty?" The water she brought was specifically for Nan Gongjing. He had been picking mushrooms until now, so his own water must have run out long ago...

After a long silence without a response from Nan Gongjing, Had he passed out?

Perhaps due to the lack of visibility, Tang Qing reached out to feel around—coincidentally, her fingers brushed his face—landing squarely on his lips!

And it just so happened to rest on the gentle nobleman’s lips!

At first, she didn’t realize it was his lips, and she even rubbed roughly before realizing.

The warmth of his breath on her skin made her jerk back!

"My bad—can’t see a thing."

It was true—the cave was pitch-black, and the faint outlines of figures were barely discernible.

No wonder he was freaking out. Such a confined space was undeniably uncomfortable.

"No water."

In the darkness, Nan Gongjing spoke first. "I’m... not feeling well right now..."

His voice cracked as he explained, "Water’ll just come back up."

"Just give me a sec."

Having gone so long without being in such an enclosed space, Nan Gongjing had been white-knuckling his way through it.

For someone with claustrophobia, holding it together this long was a miracle.

They lapsed into uneasy quiet, their breaths mingling in the dark. Tang Qing felt his breaths even out beside her.

After a while, Nan Gongjing finally spoke again.

No longer hoarse, the gentle nobleman’s tone seemed to have regained its usual calm. "Thanks for the save, Miss Tang."

"No problem." Tang Qing’s reply was simple. In the unseen darkness, Nan Gongjing’s eyes gleamed in the dark.

Only I understand how much those three simple words from Tang Qing meant.

Having spent over half an hour in this cave, thick darkness closed in, and a familiar suffocating feeling instantly overwhelmed me. If I hadn't heard Tang Qing's voice just now...

I probably would've lost it.

That would have been even more humiliating...

Nan Gongjing knew exactly how he looked when his claustrophobia flared up—body convulsing, completely out of control.

This elegant, gentle aristocrat never wanted anyone to witness his weak moment.

So he toughed it out for over half an hour.

"I told you to watch your footing on the way up," Tang Qing said slowly, her eyes gradually adjusting to the dimness of the cave as she could just make out the layout. "This must have been a hunter's trap pit from before."

"Talk about bad luck," Nan Gongjing replied, his tone back to normal. "These pits tend to be deep."

"Yeah, we can't climb out."

When she jumped down, Tang Qing had already assessed the situation. At this depth, without external help, there was no way to climb out without gear.

"I actually brought a rope, but I forgot it when I came down..."

Nan Gongjing blurted out, "You forgot?"

These past days, Tang Qing had seemed so dependable. Coming down to rescue someone without tools didn't seem like a mistake she would make...

"Yeah, I forgot."

Offhandedly, Tang Qing continued, "Maybe it was because... I felt you really needed me just then?"

Nan Gongjing froze.

Tang Qing's words had hit the nail on the head about how he'd felt.

In the darkness earlier, he had felt like a drowning man, overwhelmed by intense fear and suffocation, gasping for air. He had desperately wished for someone—anyone—to come.

And Tang Qing was that person he had hoped for.

The system chimed: "Detected increase in Nan Gongjing's Love Points. Current Love Points: 15."

Without a rope to climb up, the two could only wait for rescue inside the cave.

"Before coming, I already called the police. They should find us soon." Sitting close together, they could hear each other's heartbeats.

He had noticed before that Tang Qing possessed an uncanny calming effect. A few words from her while making tea had eased the guests' tension...

Even now, just listening to her heartbeat, whatever nerves he had left had completely vanished.

"What are you thinking about?" Tang Qing suddenly spoke in the silence. "You've been awfully quiet."

"I was thinking... why'd you turn me down at dinner?"

"Tang Qing, that was a first. That was the first time I've ever been rejected by a woman."

The famously charming ladies' man had finally been shot down, thanks to Tang Qing.

"You didn't complete the task."

Nan Gongjing was stunned, "Just for this reason?"

"The rules stated by the book were clear—only those who completed the task could eat." Tang Qing spoke matter-of-factly, her tone serious.

Oh, that's all it was?

The reason he had puzzled over turned out to be this simple. Ever since being rejected by Tang Qing last time, Nan Gongjing had even begun to doubt his own charm...

"Good."

Tang Qing: "Good how?"

"I meant... it's good that Miss Tang didn’t refuse me because she dislikes me." He chuckled lightly, regaining his usual composure, his charm resurfacing once more.

In the dim surroundings, their faces were barely visible, but their voices rang out with unusual clarity.

Nan Gongjing’s voice was clear and melodious, his laughter like a fox's sly hook—seductive and enchanting. No wonder he never lacked admirers...

"Miss Tang, if I come in first this time, can I have dinner with you?" As he spoke, Nan Gongjing suddenly voiced the reward he desired.

Tang Qing countered, puzzled, "Don’t we eat together every day?"

Nan Gongjing’s voice grew even more suggestive, "Just the two of us."

"Miss Tang, I want to invite you to dinner alone."

"I’ve wanted to for a long time..."

The last few words were like a lover’s breathy whisper—soft, unmistakably flirtatious.

System: Oho! The sly fox is starting to reel someone in!

~~

Started battling engorgement at 3:30 a.m., typing while pumping—bet no one on Tomato works harder than me!

How to boost an author’s motivation? Tomato should seriously give every writer two kids!